Ratcheting tool drive



June 21, 1966 T. F. ANGQulsT 3,256,966

RATCHETING TOOL DRIVE ATTORNEYS June 21, 1966 T. F. ANGQUlsT 3,256,966

RATCHETING TOOL DRIVE Filed Nov. l5, 1963 2 Sheets-Shea?I 2 l I 3 iINVENTOR 703mm/ f NGQz//s ATTORNEYS United States Patent O l 3,256,966RATCHETING TOOL DRIVE Torsten Fredric Angquist, Jamestown, N Y., assgnorto Crescent Niagara Corporation, Buffalo, N.Y., a corporation ot NewYork Filed Nov. 15, 1963, Ser. No. 323,982

' 8 Claims. (Cl. 192-46)' This invention relates to hand tools, and moreparticularly to tools having ratchet mechanisms to enable the user toimpart rotation to a tool selectively in either direction; or, in thealternative, to impart positive drive in both directions. v

One object of the invention is to provide a tool of the screwdriver typewherein a ratchet drive mechanism is installed in the handle therein.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide a screwdriver type toolhaving a ratchet drive mechanism in which the upper end of the toolshank passes through a central opening in the drive mechanism and isremovably received within a longitudinal bore inthe handle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a ratchet tool drivemechanism of small size werein the pawl members are formed from wirestock.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in theart after reading the following specication in connection with theannexed drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional elevation of a preferred form of a ratchettool driver constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the device shown in FIG. 1; v

FIG., 3 is a horizontal cross-section taken on the line 3 3 of FIG. l;

FIG. 4 4is an exploded view of the device shown in FIG. 1 on a somewhatreduced scale;

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the body;

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan View of the drive mechanism;

FIG. 7 is a top plan View of the reversing lever;

FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of the reversing lever;

FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 are, respectively, a plan view and a front elevationof the spring for actuating the pawls;

FIG; 11 and FIG. 12 are, respectively, side elevations and frontelevationsof the tool-retaining spring, and;

FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 are, respectively, a side elevation and a plan viewof one of the pawl mechanisms.

Arically projecting ears 22.

In FIG. 4, it may be seen that the tool driver 20 comprises acylindrical hollow body, indicated generally by the numeral 23, whichmay be -associated with a molded handle (a portion of which is shown indotted lines),- open at one end and within which there is contained adrive mechanism, indicated generally by the numeral 24, which, in turn,is retained within the body by a reversing lever, indicated generally bythe numeral 25, and which also serves as an end closure for the hollowbody.

3,256,966 Patented June 21, 1966` The reversing lever 25 is providedwith an external annular groove 26 which registers with an internalannular groove 27 provided in the body 23, whereby the reversing levercan be retained in place by means of a resilient C-shaped flat retainingring 28, received within the grooves 26 and 27. It will be seen in FIG.2, that a portion of the skirt of the body 23 is cut away at 29, andthat the ends 30 of the C-ring are turned outwardly to facilitatecompression of the retaining ring for removal of the internal elements.

The lower portion of the skirt is also provided with a cylindricalbearing surface 31, extending slightly above and below the groove 27 torotatably receive the external cylindrical surface 32 of the reversinglever. Thus, the C-ring 28 not only holds the assembly together bypreventing axial displacement, but permits relative rotation between thebody and the reversing lever. The lower face of thereversing lever isprovided with a downwardly extending pair of oppositely arranged fingergrips 33, for purposes which will be explained later.

The major portion of the upper face 34 is at except for the provision ofan upwardly projecting circular ridge 35 spaced concentrically inwardlya short distance from the periphery of surface 34 and extendingapproximately The reversing lever is also provided with a centrallylocated bore 36 which receives a downwardly projecting circular boss 37centrally located on the under side of the drive mechanism 24.

The drive mechanism is freely rotatable within the body 23 and, as willbe explained later, is also 4rotatable to a limited degree with respectto the reversing lever 25. Axial movement, however, is limited due tothe fact that the upper end 38 bears against the upper internal wall 39of the body, while the lower faces of the downwardly projectingconcentrically arranged ridges 40, 42 and 43 bear on the surface 34 ofthe reversing lever.

' The lower end of the drive 'mechanism is also undercut to provide thecircular external recesses 43 and 44 within which the ridge 35 of thereversing lever is rotatably received.'

The drive mechanism also includes a pair of J-shaped pawls 45 and 46.These pawls are formed from hardened Wire stock and, since they aresimilar but of opposite hand, it is believed necessary only to show oneof them in FIGS. 4, 13 and 14. Their assembled positions being clearlyshown in FIG. 3. The short legs 45a and 46a of each pawl serves as amounting pivot and they are respectively received within the apertures47 and 48 drilled upwardly from the end face 49 of the drive mechanism.This portion of the end face is undercut and forms an extension of therecesses 43 and 44.

The two apertures 47 and 48 are disposed outwardly of the opposite sidesof the boss 37 and in circumferential alignment with the ridges 42 `and43. The horizontally extending mid portions of the pawls bear slidablyagainst the end face 49 on the one hand, and on the other hand,

are prevented from dropping out of the apertures 47 and A centrallylocated bore 52 extends vertically through the drive mechanism includingthe boss 37 and a continuation 53 of this bore extends upwardly througha centrally located boss 54 provided on the top of the body 23 andupwardly into the handle.

The bore 52 dilfers from its continuation 53 in that bore 52 is alsoprovided with a pair of oppositely disposed longitudinally extendingslots 55 which slidably receive the ears 22. Since the shank 21 is of adiameter to be loosely but easily received Within the bores 52 and 53,it will be seen that if the tool shank is inserted from the bottom ofthe drive mechanism, upward movement of the shank will be stoppedbecause the ears cannot enter the bore 53.

In order to hold the tool in place, yet permit its easy removal, theslot 56 is cut a little deeper and is provided with a longitudinallyextending spring detent member 57, and one end of the slot is also cutaway in a radial direction, as at 58, to provide space for outwardmovement of the spring tip 59 when the tool shank is being inserted orremoved.

Extending about the entire inner periphery of the cylindrical body 23and above the bearing surface 31 are a plurality of longitudinallyextending semi-cylindrical teeth 60, whose radii are approximately thesame as the radii of the wire stock from which the pawls are made.

The outer surface 61 of the drive mechanism 24 is cylindrical incross-section and of =a diameter to be loosely received within thetoothed portion of the body 23. Furthermore, the two longitudinalrecesses 50 and 511 are of suicient depth such that when one of the pawlelements is disposed with-in its respective recess, it will becompletely free from the possibility of contact with any of the teeth60.

A C-shaped spring made of flat stock and having a body portion 62 whichextends in a flat plane when unstressed, and having re-entrantly turnedend portions 63 and 64 is stressed into a curve and placed in thecircular space between the ridge 40 and the exterior of the boss 37 sothat the ends of the spring bear yieldingly against the respective midportions of the pawls, as can be seen in FIG. 3.

In this ligure, it can also be seen that the spring end 64 is urging thelonger leg of the pawl 46 into engagement with `one of the teeth 60 andthat the arrangement is such that relative rotation of the body 23 in aclockwise direction with respect to the drive mechanism 24 will beeffectively prevented, while at the same time, counterclockwise rotationof the body will be permitted by the successive downwardly yieldingoscillatory movement of the pawl 46. Y

Means is provided whereby the pawls 45 and 46 can be selec-tively placedin ratcheting engagement with the teeth 60, while the respective otherone of the pawls is held out of engagement to provide one way rotarydriving movement of the body 23 lin either direction with respect to thedrive mechanism and the tool shank engaged therewith. This selectiveengaging-means is also effective to release both of the pawls forsimultaneous engagement with the teeth 60 to provide positive two-waydrive between the body 23 and a tool shank received therein.

The means for accomplishing this selective drive includes the circularridge 35, the position of which can be changed by rotation of thereversing lever 25 with respect to the drive mechanism 24. There arethree operating positions and each of them can be lreleasably maintainedby virtue of the provision of a detent mechanism which includes a ball66 received within a suitable radial opening in the linger piece 33 andwhich is springbiased into selective engagement with the recesses 67, 68and 69 provided on the exterior of the boss 37.

To change the position of the ridge 35, it is only necessary to hold thehandle of the drive mechanism in one hand and to turn the reversinglever by gripping the l finger grips 33 with 4the other hand in thedirection in which it is desired to drive the tool.

It will further be observed in solid lines in FIG. 3 that one end 70 ofridge 35 bears inwardly against pawl 45 holding it within recess 5G soas to be completely out of engagement with the teeth 60. The other end71 of the 4ridge 35 is clear of pawl 46 to permit its active engagementwith the teeth.

If the ridge 35 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction (as seen inFIG. 3) to engage the ball 65 with the middle recess 63, both ends willbe clear of both pawls as indicated by the dotted lines at 70 and 71.The posi-` tion of pawl 46 remains as before, While pawl 45 will dropdown in engagement with teeth 60.

While the pawl 45 would normally permit clockwise rotation of the body23, this rotation is now prevented by pawl 46. Similarly, while the pawl46 would normally permit counterclockwise rotation of the body, this isnow prevented by pawl 45 and therefore positive drive in both directionsis obtained.

Further rotation of the ridge 35 in a counterclockwise direction willnot affect pawl 45, but the upper end of the ridge will swing the pawl46 inwardly out of engagement with teeth 66, and the ends of thecircular ridge being now at positions indicated by the dotted lines at7G" and 71.

Since pawl 46 is completely disengaged, it places no restriction onrotation of the body 23, and since pawl 45 is not engaged by the ridge35, it remains in engagement with the teeth 60, under which conditions,the body 23 may freely rotate in a clockwise direction with respect tothe drive mechanism, but cannot move relative to the drive mechanism inthe counterclockwise direction.

Having shown and described one form of the invention which may bepracticed, it should be understood that various modifications,alterations and changes can be made by one skilled in the art whichwould be included Within the scope of the annexed claims.

I claim:

1. In ratchet mechanisms for use with a tool having an elongatedstraight shank provided with a radially projecting portion for drivingengagement with the ratchet mechanism positioned medially of the lengthof the shank, the combination including, a cup-shaped body having aconcentric bore at its closed end, a iirst member concentricallyrotatably mounted in said body, a second member concentrically rotatablymounted on said iirst member in said body, pawl means for one-waydriving engagement between said body and said second member, said secondmember having a concentric bore to receive the tool shank and beingprovided with a longitudinal slot for said driving engagement with theprojecting portion, and detent means for yielding engagement with theradially projecting portion for retaining the tool shank in place, axialmovement of the shank in one direction being limited by abutment of theprojecting portion against the inner wall of lthe cup-shaped body.

2. The invent-ion as deiined in claim 1, wherein said detent meanscomprises an inwardly directed, outwardly yieldable leaf springlongitudinally positioned in said slot.

3. The invention as deiined in claim 1, wherein said cup-shaped bodyincludes an exteriorly projecting concentrically arranged portion, saidconcentric bore extending into said projecting portion to prov-idesupport for a tool shank.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein said pawl means includesa length of wire stock having end portions extending at right angles tothe medial portion.

5. In a ratchet tool, a hollow body, the interior thereof being providedwith longitudinally extending annularly arranged teeth, tool drivingmeans rotatably supported by said body and a pawl supported on said tooldriving means, said pawl having a mid portion terminating at eachendwith a portion extending at right angles to the mid portion, both endportions being parallel with each other.

6. The invention as defined in claim 5, wherein said end portions extend-in the same direction.

7. In a ratcheting tool, a hollow rst member, a second member rotatablysupported therein, one of said members being provided with annularlyarranged longitudinally extending teeth, the other of said members beingprovided with a` pawl operatively engaging with said teeth, said pawlbeing formed of Wire stock, and comprising a mid portion having one endextending at right angles thereto, and the other end being pivotallymounted on said one member.

6 8. The invention as defined in claim 7, wherein the other end of saidpawl extends at right angles lto the mid portion in the same directionas said one end.

l References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,773,574-12/1956 Able 192-43.1

0 DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primm Examiner.

DON A. WAI'I'E, Examiner.

A. T. MCKEON, Assistant Examiner.

5. IN A RATCHET TOOL, A HOLLOW BODY, THE INTERIOR THEREOF BEING PROVIDEDWITH LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING ANNULARLY ARRANGED TEETH, TOOL DRIVINGMEANS ROTATABLY SUPPORTED BY SAID BODY AND A PAWL SUPPORTED ON SAID TOOLDRIVING MEANS, SAID PAWL HAVING A MID PORTION TERMINATING AT EACH ENDWITH A PORTION EXTENDING AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE MID PORTION, BOTH ENDPORTIONS BEING PARALLEL WITH EACH OTHER.